"These Soul Power Energy Crystals we brought out from the Reincarnation Path are indeed of better quality than any we've obtained before."
"With the Soul Soup from earlier and now these Soul Power Energy Crystals, I feel I won't be long from achieving a breakthrough in my bloodline," Hu Miao said excitedly.
Next, Ye Yunfei sorted out another large batch of spirit herbs. All of them were herbs imbued with dark, yin-type energies, their colors predominantly in cold hues.
"These herbs are incredibly useful to me. Take the Ghost Face Grass, for example. It's almost impossible to find in the outside world," Huang Shang said, appearing beside Ye Yunfei, his excitement palpable as he looked over the sorted herbs.
"What is this?" Ye Yunfei suddenly produced three archaic-looking spears from a space ring. They gave him a sense of déjà vu.
In a flash, he remembered them.
"These are the same kind of spears those two guardian statues along the Reincarnation Path were holding," Ye Yunfei said, recalling the two sentinel statues he had encountered earlier on that road. Their spears were identical to the three he now held in his hands.
"These spears seem specifically designed to attack Soul Bodies. They should be a type of Soul Force Energy Artifact," Huang Shang observed, eyeing the three spears.
"Indeed. All three radiate a strange aura of Soul Power Energy and seem to pose a significant threat to Soul Bodies. Moreover, those two guardian statues on the Reincarnation Path stand by the roadside, surely to watch over the departed souls. The weapons in their hands must also be specialized for dealing with such spirits," Hun Lao chimed in.
"I'll find an opportunity to refine them and test their power," Ye Yunfei said with a smile, feeling the energy of the three spears in his hands.
Subsequently, Ye Yunfei rummaged through the space rings and unearthed a massive assortment of various artifacts. All of them were of the Soul Force Energy type.
"So many Soul Force Energy artifacts! Master, I sense their grades are very high. Some might even be of the Sovereign God level!" Hu Miao exclaimed, looking at the large pile Ye Yunfei had set aside.
"That's strange," Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm couldn't help but add. "That Reincarnation Ghost has always existed within the Reincarnation Path. Typically, only departed souls enter that road. So why would a Reincarnation Ghost possess such a vast collection of Soul Force Energy artifacts?"
"I actually know a bit about that reason," Hun Lao interjected. "It's because some departed souls, before their end, conceal particularly sophisticated Soul Force Energy artifacts within their ghostly forms. They bring these artifacts into the Reincarnation Path, intending to use them to protect their souls. The goal is to preserve their memories while on the path, so they can be reborn in their next life with their memories from the previous life intact.
Doing so essentially means being reincarnated with one's memories, akin to reliving another life.
However, the Reincarnation Path operates under strict rules. No matter how ingenious the artifacts a departed soul smuggles in, they are ultimately expunged and discarded within the path, only to be scavenged by creatures like that Reincarnation Ghost."
"So that's how it is," Ye Yunfei said, enlightened by Hun Lao's explanation.
"The grades of these artifacts truly are excellent. From now on, we won't be lacking for Soul Force Energy artifacts," Ye Yunfei remarked with a smile. Artifacts that departed souls risked bringing into the Reincarnation Path were naturally of high quality.
Ye Yunfei distributed some of these artifacts among Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm and his other companions. Not only was Ye Yunfei's own power steadily increasing, but the strength of Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm and the others was also growing. The required amount and quality of cultivation resources and artifacts for everyone were constantly rising.
"What's this?" Ye Yunfei suddenly produced a black banner.
Upon being taken out, the banner immediately released billowing clouds of black mist. Within that mist, dense clusters of shadowy figures began to materialize.
"These look like departed souls! Could it be? This single black banner actually conceals so many departed souls? What exactly is going on?" Ye Yunfei was somewhat taken aback, watching the constantly writhing, floating figures.
"These aren't complete departed souls. They are mere fragments of souls. I understand now. This black banner is an artifact, specifically designed by that Reincarnation Ghost to collect soul fragments from within the Reincarnation Path.
After entering the Reincarnation Path, departed souls have a long journey ahead if they wish to be successfully reincarnated. They face all sorts of dangers along the way. If they fail to reach the Six Realms Reincarnation Cave, they cannot achieve rebirth. They simply dissipate within the path.
Take the Huangquan Road, for example. Amidst the Bǐ'àn Flowers lining that road, there exist countless fragments of departed souls." Huang Shang explained after a brief glance at the large black banner.
"Indeed, these are not complete souls," Ye Yunfei agreed, staring at the fragmented figures in the mist for a moment.
"Huang Lao, artifacts like these seem more suited to you. I entrust this one to you," Ye Yunfei said, handing the black banner to Huang Shang.
"This type of artifact suits me perfectly. With it, I will be a great asset to you," Huang Shang replied, clearly excited as he took the banner and sensed its power.
"And what are these?" Suddenly, Ye Yunfei produced a large bundle of greenish bamboo strips, exuding a strange, viridescent glow that was distinctly unsettling.
"These seem to be a type of plant that grows within the Reincarnation Path. The fact that they were collected by that Reincarnation Ghost suggests they possess considerable value," Huang Shang remarked after studying the green-stained strips.
"Hun Lao, can you recognize what these bamboo strips are?" Ye Yunfei asked Hun Lao.
Hun Lao possessed the racial memories of the Chaotic World Tree Clan and often knew secrets unknown to other beings.
"I can't recall for the moment, but I sense these strips pose a significant threat to the Soul Bodies of living beings. At the very least, they can be used as artifacts," Hun Lao stated after observing the strangely luminous strips.
"True. These bamboo strips do seem to hold a great threat to the Soul Bodies of living beings, much like the three spears from before. They can be used to attack a being's Soul Body," Huang Shang also commented.
After that, Ye Yunfei sorted out a few other strange items. However, neither he nor his companions could identify any of these later discoveries.
"These are all oddities from the Reincarnation Path. It's normal we can't recognize them immediately. Let's store them for now; we may figure them out later," Hun Lao advised.
"Master, for some reason, I feel this little black mirror is especially terrifying! I just glanced at its surface, and my Soul Body nearly seized up!" Hu Miao suddenly cried out in alarm, pointing to a small black mirror Ye Yunfei had set aside.